Ancient Roman Gold and Glass Pendant

$625.28

A fine ancient Roman gold pendant featuring a teardrop-shaped body, hammered from a thin layer of gold. To the front, fine filigree forms a delicate frame around a heart-shaped green glass insert, set within a gold bezel. The frame coils into a small loop at each side of the pendant, at shoulder height and at the accentuated point. These would have once held additional glass inserts, some of which are still visible in the top left bezel. A ridged cylindrical suspension loop sits at the top of the piece, whilst the reverse remains unworked. Some earthy encrustations are visible on the surface.

Date: Circa 1st – 3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine condition, some earthly encrustations on the surface.

SOLD

SKU: MG-350 Category: Tags: , ,

The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads. However, as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, so too did jewellery designs which became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering city.

To find out more about the different decorative metal works, please see our relevant blog post: Decorative Metalwork Techniques.

Weight 1.05 g
Dimensions L 1.4 x H 2 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Glass

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